Hong Kong has joined another 200 cities around the world to switch off for WWF's Earth Hour in 2009. Whether you are a Climateer or not, please take part in this evening of lights out with your family and friends to show to the world that Hong Kong cares about climate change and you – as a Hong Kong citizen – are part of this important global movement!

Earth Hour 2009, which hopes to reach out to more than one billion people in 1,000 cities around the world, asks individuals, businesses and governments to switch off lights for just one hour on Saturday March 28 at 8:30pm to create a platform of support for action on climate change. It aims to demonstrate unprecedented solidarity and provide a visual global mandate that will put the heat on world leaders meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009 to strike a new global deal on climate change.

For Climateers, joining Earth Hour is a symbolic act to make connection with other people from all over the world taking action on climate change. It is also a gesture of applause to all of you who is looking after your carbon footprint, making different lifestyle changes to make Earth Hour every hour. To support you in the low carbon path in the new year, the Climateers is providing you an upgraded Carbon Calculator, a low carbon living appliances guide and regular activities to help lower your footprint.

WWF targets one million local participants to make it the largest collective action against climate change in Hong Kong ever. As at January 2009, more than 200 corporations and organizations have already pledged to support Earth Hour, together with the Environment Bureau, Home Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong Observatory, Legislative Council, Tourism Board and several other government departments. The “Symphony of Lights” show will also be suspended on 28 March to echo Earth Hour.

Mr. Leung Chun Ying, Convenor of the Executive Council of HKSAR, at the Hong Kong Earth Hour launching ceremony said, "WWF's Earth Hour raises global awareness of the importance of reducing carbon emissions and energy conservation so that a sustainable and healthy environment can be passed onto our future generations. Switching off is a simple and effective action. I urge all corporations, organizations and individuals who have not yet pledged their support for "Earth Hour" to join in these efforts. Our concerted action will show the world that Hong Kong is taking its responsibility seriously as a member of the global community in tackling climate change."

To sign up for Earth Hour and learn more about this global campaign in Hong Kong, please visit: www.earthhour.org/hongkong.

The lights out initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007 as a public awareness raising campaign, has grown significantly over the past two years and now has 200 cities ready to flick the switch in 2009. Cities already committed include Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, Sydney, Rome, Manila, Toronto, Dubai and Copenhagen.